Dubai Design Week 2025 To Spotlight Global And Regional Creative Talent

Dubai Design Week, the region's leading design festival, will return for its 11th edition from 4-9 November 2025 under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture). Presented in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and supported by Dubai Culture, the 2025 edition will feature a dynamic programme of commissions, exhibitions, installations, talks and live events.

Since its launch, Dubai Design Week has become a catalyst for cross-cultural exchange, spotlighting diverse practices from the region and beyond while connecting them to global audiences. Its multidisciplinary programme spans disciplines including architecture, interiors, furniture, product, graphic and experiential design, acting as a platform for dialogue, experimentation and progress. Set against the backdrop of Dubai's cultural landscape, it continues to reflect the city's growing role as a global meeting point for creativity and ideas.

2025 PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

DOWNTOWN DESIGN
Downtown Design, the anchor event of the week and the region's leading fair for high-quality and contemporary design, returns to the d3 Waterfront Terrace from 5-9 November 2025, showcasing the latest collections, innovative products and design solutions, complemented by a programme of pop-up concepts, regional spotlights, talks and panel discussions.

EDITIONS
Alongside Downtown Design, Editions will showcase limited-edition art and design from regional and international creators, spanning prints, photography, works on paper, ceramics, contemporary design, and artist multiples. Highlights include Galerie Geek Art 's first regional presentation of Japanese art; Dubai-based Ila Colombo's AI-driven practice; globally recognised designers david/nicholas in collaboration with Iwan Maktabi and Orient 499 debuting a new contemporary design collection; Wadi Finan Art Gallery bridges heritage with contemporary practice presenting works on paper by a selection of regional artists; and the global launch of Bureau of Innovation , presenting one-of-a-kind works by leading designers such as Tom Fereday. Returning exhibitors include Rarares Gallery , spotlighting Dubai's emerging artists; Leila Heller Gallery with prints by Keith Haring; Rooster Gallery with a new collection by Sandra Strele; as well as Urbanist and Zawyeh Gallery , bringing perspectives from the Levant and Palestine.

URBAN COMMISSIONS
Urban Commissions , Dubai Design Week's design competition, is an annual programme that provides a platform for architects and designers to experiment with ideas for the public realm. Each edition responds to a specific theme, encouraging proposals that investigate how design can enrich civic life.

ABWAB
Abwab is a yearly programme that supports designers from across West, South and East Asia, as well as the African continent, by commissioning installations or pavilions each year thematically remodelled to reflect relevant global and regional contexts. Since its inception in 2015, Abwab has showcased the work of more than 180 designers.

INSTALLATIONS
Over 30 large-scale outdoor installations will transform d3 into an open-air space of design innovation, where public spaces become interactive works that invite exploration and engagement.

EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVATIONS
Dubai Design Week 2025 will present a diverse mix of exhibitions, pop ups and activations, spanning immersive brand experiences, cultural collaborations and independent initiatives including: the UAE Designer Exhibition , supported by Dubai Culture, which will return with an evolved format expanding mentorship opportunities for emerging creatives; the d3 Architecture Exhibition in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will showcase works by leading international and regional architectural firms centred on the theme of community; an immersive pop up by Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre , tracing back the history of the Reverso through the lens of design, architecture and the culinary arts; Design You Can Feel by technology brand ASUS is an exploration of materiality, craftsmanship and AI, offering audiences a deeper connection to design and technology; L'ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels is set to unveil a world premiere exhibition at their campus in d3, presenting a unique dialogue between the West and East through the art of jewellery, alongside local heritage and museum artifacts; and Bootleg Griot , an independent public library project, highlights works by artists, collectives and writers of African descent through a satellite library format that celebrates creativity, cultural exchange and accessibility.

TALKS, WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES
Hosted in a dedicated Maker Space, Dubai Design Week's workshops programme is designed to inspire and elevate skills across design disciplines, welcoming professionals and aspiring creatives of all ages, interests and levels of experience. The sessions will be led by professors from leading institutions such as the University of the Arts London (UAL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , alongside creative leaders including Twothirds Design Bureau , a Dubai-based research-led branding and visual design studio and Kaph Books , a regional publisher of high-quality visual arts books rooted in the UAE and Lebanon. They will be joined by independent makers, design collectives and cultural organisations, expanding the programme with diverse perspectives.

The Forum at Downtown Design returns with live talks and keynotes, headlined by Tom Dixon in his Dubai debut. He will appear alongside other globally acclaimed voices, including one of the UK's leading product designers, Lee Broom and French architect, interior designer and restorer Isabelle Stanislas .

MARKETPLACE
Dubai Design Week's weekend Marketplace (8–9 November) is a curated outdoor retail experience set within d3 that platforms homegrown businesses and independent makers from the UAE and across the region, dedicated to handmade wares and crafted goods. Visitors can explore products ranging from homeware, jewellery, fashion and lifestyle items to sustainably made goods. This year, the Marketplace once again brings together design, culinary experiences, children's activities and live performances, creating a vibrant community space that celebrates creativity and craft while connecting audiences of all ages.

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